Cerebral blood flow. A predictor of recovery from ischemia in the gerbil.

Cerebral ischemia was induced in gerbils by bilateral carotid ligation for periods of 10 to 40 minutes. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by hydrogen clearance. Following ischemia, ultimate clinical and electroencephalogram recovery could be predicted in every case within the first five minutes by recovery could be predicted in every case within the first five minutes by recovery of CBF to at least 100% of the control level. In animals without EEC recovery, the postischemic CBF was always less than 80% of control and progressively declined to zero. Residual flow during ischemia appeared to minimize the likelihood of brain death. The determination of ultimate brain death appeared to coincide with a major circulatory abnormality that is probably microvascular.